About Rosebud

Rosebud, It’s a Lifestyle!

Located on the Mornington Peninsula, the region is recognised by many as Victoria’ s premier holiday destinations. The variety of world class attractions that are within easy reach of the town include wineries, cafes, restaurants; farmers, arts and crafts markets; golf courses; cycling, horse riding and hiking trails; national parks; hot pools; mazes; pier and boat fishing.

Rosebud’s four kilometres of foreshore, with its shady coastal vegetation, is adjacent to perfect white sands and safe, swimming beaches, making it an ideal family camping environment. For more than 80 years the Rosebud foreshore has attracted families from near and far – some which are now into their fourth and even fifth generation campers! For those who enjoy more comfort and space, the town offers many other holiday accommodation options with a plethora of holiday homes for rent, caravan parks and motels, all available throughout the year.Traditionally home to water activities such as sailing, fishing and kayaking, the Rosebud waters are now hosting new adventure activities, Paddle Boarding and Kite Surfing, which in particular is not for the faint hearted.
The thriving shopping strip of Rosebud and it’s modern plaza are full of bustling cafes and restaurants, a six screen fully digital cinema, mini golf, indoor and outdoor bowls, all of which are within easy reach of the beach. Produce markets are prolific in the area, with monthly dates in Rosebud and surrounding towns packed with locally grown vegetables and fruit, supported by the artisan makers jams, relishes and cheeses. Vintage shops also are a feature of the town with numerous options to choose from.

Must Do:

Sail, fish, kayak & stand up boarding

Short drives to wineries, galleries, hot springs and golf courses

Cycle or walk the foreshore boardwalk

Hiking and cycling trails

Fresh Produce Markets

Vintage Clothing shopping

Local Events:

Rosebud International Kite Festival - Labour Day Weekend

Peninsula Short Film Festival – Sat 4 Feb 2018

Australia Day Fun Run – 26 Jan 2018

History of Rosebud

Originally known as Banksia Point, Rosebud began life as a fishing community in the early 1850s. On 2 June 1855, the cargo vessel Rosebud, owned by one of the colony's best known pastoralists Edward Hobson, was washed over the large sandbars and onto the beach. The burgeoning community made off with the cargo of damask and household goods, but the wreck remained for many years as the locals slowly stripped its hull to use in the construction of houses. It became commonplace to call the area "The Rosebud" in reference to the ship, which was shortened to "Rosebud" as the last vestiges of the ship disappeared.
The settlement remained rudimentary for many years based on farming and fishing. A school began operating in 1884 and moved into purpose-built premises three years later. The first store wasn't opened until Welshman Jackie Jones began selling goods from an upturned boat in the late 1880s.
Rosebud suffered from a lack of direct access to Melbourne. When a pier was finally built in 1888, it failed to extend into the deep water, so ferries and passenger ships from the metropolis had to dock at Dromana, a larger town about eight kilometers to the north. A road was formed by clearing a path at Anthony's Nose, the point where Arthurs Seat (305 metres) meets the sea, halfway between Rosebud and Dromana. This, at last, gave Rosebud a road connection to surrounding towns and Melbourne. The Post Office then opened on 27 March 1889.
Although some companies offered ferry passengers a ride to Rosebud after they disembarked at Dromana, the bulk of the tourism trade went to Dromana and nearby Arthurs Seat, while Dromana remained the transportation hub for goods brought by road and sea.
In the early twentieth century, developers attempted to market Rosebud as an English-style seaside resort with the creation of the Clacton-on-Sea estate (today known as the "Avenues"). Vacant land was offered at just two pounds per block in an effort to stimulate investment in the area. Take up was slow; society wasn't affluent enough to allow many of the middle class to own holiday homes so far from the city. This slow growth continued in the inter-war years; the township consisted of about ten shops and a Presbyterian church, built of wood on a single day in 1923. The first pub (the Rosebud Hotel) wasn't built until 1939-40. Built in the prevailing art deco style, it remains a landmark of the town.
Local businessmen had noticed a slowly growing phenomenon in the late 1930s and 1940s - the popularity of camping on the Rosebud foreshore; a cheap and interesting alternative to staying at guesthouses or hotels. After World War II, aided by the explosion in the number of people owning a car, camping at Rosebud over the Christmas-New Year holidays became a tradition for many Melbourne families. The Rosebud Foreshore Committee was set up to administer the area and take bookings, (now controlled by Mornington Peninsula Shire) which are now made twelve months in advance. By the 21st century, camping on the foreshore has taken on a cultural dimension and there are families who are fourth and even fifth generation visitors. Many Melburnians can reminisce about summer holidays at Rosebud.
By the 1960s, Rosebud had emerged as the largest town on the southern Peninsula, complete with a shopping centre and extensive sporting facilities. In time it became home to an increasing number of permanent residents, including 'sea change' retirees. However the demographic change in recent years has seen new housing estates develop, and former holiday homes renovated, which are now home to many young families. The town's shopping strip and most of its amenities are located on an extended strip of the Nepean Highway, which runs parallel to the beach.
Rosebuds foreshore is an extensive camping ground, the largest on the Peninsula, lined with banksias, tea tree and sheoak. The sites have direct access to the long expanse of white sands and shallow waters, safe for families. During the summer months and as late as Easter campers can be found in these areas.

Rosebud has become one of the main towns on the Mornington Peninsula mostly because of its bustling, commercial precinct which, unusually, still supports all six major banks.